Organisers have formally announced details of the 2025 combined regatta initiative for teams from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Ireland. Following an inaugural meeting last December, four 2025 regattas in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales have combined.
Already, four Flying Fifteens are signed up for Dun Laoghaire with a fleet of 20 plus ultimately expected, making it one of the biggest one-design fleets at Ireland’s biggest sailing event from July 9-13.
The non-spinnaker Cruiser 2B class leads the entry count in the four non-spinnaker classes for July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Three local boats plus a Beneteau Oceanis 37 from Arklow Sailing Club comprise the four-boat fleet to date, including Colin O’Brien’s Spirit, a Jeanneau 39DS and Paul Conway’s Contessa 32, Cevantes, both from the Royal St George Yacht Club.
Xaviera, an X4 owned by Jonathan Anderson, was the name drawn from the hat in January to win back her entry fee in this year’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta’s early entry incentive.
Entered in the coastal class, Xaviera sails under the burgees of the Clyde Cruising Club and the Royal Irish Yacht Club.
As Afloat readers will recall, Xaviera was on form in Belfast Lough at Bangor Regatta in 2024 but she makes her Dun Laoghaire Regatta debut on Dublin Bay this July.
The overseas prospect of ace helmsman Jamie McWilliam of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club would add extra spice to the Cruisers One division of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta next July. McWilliam is considering entering Ireland’s biggest sailing regatta in his recently acquired BB10 one-design keelboat, Pelikanen.
The potential to have a “free” entry into the 2025 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta has attracted some serious contenders before the closing date of December 31st. The opportunity to win back the entry fee ends at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and the draw results will be announced shortly afterwards, according to organisers.
IRC European Championship winner Johnny and Suzie Murphy’s J109 Outrajeous from Howth Yacht Club is one of the first entries into what is expected to be the hotly contested Class Zero (B) of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.
The countdown is on for the 2025 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, which will take place from July 10 to 13. Entries are now open. Next year’s event promises to be more exciting than ever, featuring several innovative updates to enhance the experience for participants and spectators alike.
Although the first race of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) is still seven months away, six entries have already been submitted for Ireland’s largest regatta in 2025. July’s grand prix is expected to attract an estimated fleet of 350 to 400 boats, including some of the fastest yachts across Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England.
A 2025 Nations Cup competition between six teams bordering the Irish Sea is just one of the positive outcomes of Wednesday’s (December 2nd) high-level inaugural meeting of Irish Sea Regatta organisers at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
